Combined pencil sharpener and envelope opener



Dec. 23, 1941. P. D. K. HATCH Y I 6 COMBINED PENCIL SHARPENER AND ENVELOPE OPENER Filed Nov. 22, 1940 Patented Dec. 23,, 1941 UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE U COMBlh-TED 4 ENEB Preblel). 1:. Batch, Bangor, Maine Application November 22', 1940, Serial No. 366,611

Claims.

This invention-relates to a combined pencil sharpener and letter opener.

It is an object ofthe invention to provide a I pencil sharpener which-may be readily carried in the pocket, having a knife blade operably mounted for severing the edge of an envelo whereby the envelope is opened.

A furtherobject of the invention resides in providing a device of the above-mentionedcharacter which is simple and durable in construction, reliable and efiicient in operation; and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. In' the accompanying drawing forming apart of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device, 1

Fig. 2 is air-elevation of one end of the device,

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the opposite end. of the device,

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the device,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the device in position for severing'the edge of an envelope, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the knife blade in its normal position showing the inclined slot in the side of the groove below the point of the knife blade.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have shown-a; preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 denotes an elongated body of rect z shape preferably constructed of a suitable light material. The body is provided with a conical bore 8 eccentrically disposed to the longitudinal axis of the body which extends from one end of the body to a point adjacent the opposite end.. One side of the body is provided with a longitudinal groove 1 to receive a knife blade 8' pivotally mounted at one end by a pivot screw 9. The groove 1 of the bore so as to engage a pencil inserted in the bore whereby the pencil is sharpened upon rotation of the pencil or the body. The free end of the knife blade has a vertical extension ll disposed in the recessed portion l2 oi the body providing a finger piece l3. A coilspring It is disposed between the finger piece [3 and top of the body having one end seated in a re- 55 3. A device oi the character cess 15 in the top and its opposite end engaged with the projection l6 pressed from the finger piece. .The spring l4 normally holds the knife blade in operative position for use as a sharpener, but upon depressing the finger piece It the knife blade swings downwardly into operative position for severing the edge of an envelope when the edge is inserted between the cutting edge of the blade andside of the groove 1 as shown in Fig. 5. When the edge of the envelope is inserted between the cutting edge and side of the groove, the knife blade. is depressed and the device is drawn along the edge of the envelope which causes the cutting edge to sever the edge of the envelope. The side of the groove 1 towards which. the cutting edge of the blade moves is provided with a-downwardly inclined when the knife blade is disposed in its normal position. When employed as an envelope opener, the edge of the envelope is insertedin the groove beneath the cutting edge of the knife blade and upon depressing the knife blade and drawing the device along the edge of the envelope the edge is severed and the envelope opened.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and describedis to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that certain changes in the shape, size, and ar-, rangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjcined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a body having a longitudinal rectangular groove in one side and a conical bore extending longitudinally of the body in communication with with the bottom of the groove, a knife blade piv- .otally mounted in the bottom of said groove towards one side of said groove, and means for depressing said knife blade.

described comnally of the body in communication with said bore, a knife blade pivotally mounted at one end in said groove having its cutting edge projecting into the bore, an extension projecting from the free end of said blade having its end bent at right angles to extend over the top of said body toprovide a finger piece for depressing said knife blade, and a spring. beneath said finger piece normally holding said knif blade in a raised position.

5; A device of the character described comprising a body having a longitudinal groove in one side and a conical bore extending longitudinally of the body in communication with said groove, a knife blade pivotally mounted at one end in said groove having a cutting edge pro.-

Jecting into said bore, an extension projecting,

upwardly from the free end of said blade having' its end bent at right angles to extend over the top of said body to form a finger piece for depressing the blade to move the cutting edge towards one side of the'groove, the side of the groove towards which said blade is moved being provided with an inclined slot to receive the point of the cutting edge, and a spring disposed 'beneath said finger piece adapted to normally hold said blade in a raised position.

PREBLE D. K. 'HATCH. 

